Lenin's note to Stalin

Sverdlov asks him to dismiss him in his place1.

It is necessary to gather the votes of the Politburo:

1) Sverdlov should be left in Moscow as a rapporteur (with a decisive vote) in the Council of Defense and the Council of People's Commissars.

2) To ask Comrade Trotsky to octroi1*constitute Comrade Sverdlov in order to appease the soul of his unrest.

Record of the vote of the members of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the RCP(b)

3а. Lenin.

To. I. Stalin.

Kamenev (gave his consent by telephone. St[alin]).

Trotsky could not be caught. According to my information he is against the dismissal of t. Sverdlov2*.

Note by V.I. Lenin to L.D. Trotsky

т. Trotsky.

I enclose Sverdlov's note to me and an attempt to collect votes by teleph[oon]. Perhaps we can get along without a meeting.

Lenin.

Note by L.D. Trotsky to V.I. Lenin.

We could do without Sverdlov in the center if we are sure that the combination with Borisov will succeed. The next 2-3 weeks will be decisive. It seems to me that Sverdlov should be told: for the "critical" period he should stay in the center, and in 2-3 weeks, when (if) things in the center get better, he can be released "in place".

Trotsky.

P.S. I propose to give Sverdlov the decisive vote in the CNK and the Council of the Obr[orona].

Trotsky.

Fond 2, op. 1, d. 15925 - autographs.

1* Octroize - to grant, grant someone any advantages or rights

2* "For. Stalin" and to the end written by Stalin.

1V.M.Sverdlov asked to be relieved of his position as deputy chairman and member of the Main Transportation Commission. On November 5, 1920, the Politburo of the Central Committee of the RCP(b) granted his request and on the same day the Council of Labor and Defense relieved him of his work in the Main Transport Commission, appointed A.L.Kolegaev as deputy chairman and A.I.Emshanov as a member (see: Decrees of Soviet Power. Vol. XI, p. 418).